As
the Pope prayed the Rosary in front of the Madonna of the Miracle, a Syrian
Franciscan sister remains firmly hopeful that despite the continuing war, the
best years lie ahead for Syria and her ancient Christian community.

On
the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, Pope Francis made a pilgrimage to the
Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love on the outskirts of Rome this evening to pray
for peace in the world, especially in Syria.

“Let
us pray together,” he told the faithful on arrival at the shrine before
reciting the Rosary in front of the image of the Madonna of the Miracle.

The
Pope announced his wish to pray at the shrine on Sunday, during his Regina
Coeli prayer, saying he would be praying “especially for peace in Syria and in
the entire world.” He asked the faithful to “join him spiritually” in
continuing to pray “the Rosary for peace” during the Marian month of May.

The
Pope, who said he would also be praying for peace in Nigeria and the Koreas,
has frequently expressed his concerns about Syria.

The
seven-year war has left an estimated 500,000 dead, five million Syrians have
fled the country and over six million have been internally displaced. The war
grew out of the 2011 Arab Spring and discontent with the government of Bashar
al-Assad, but other groups and nations have since become involved, including
ISIS which is seeking to overthrow Assad and impose Salafist rule.

The
Pope said April 15 he was “deeply disturbed” by the failure of the international
community to end the war and bring peace to the Middle East nation.

On
April 14, the US, France and Britain carried out a series of military strikes
against multiple government sites in Syria in response to a chemical attack
against civilians in the Syrian city of Douma on April 7. Although blamed for
the atrocity, the Syrian government denied involvement in the Douma attacks and
denounced the airstrikes as a violation of international law.

Christians
in Syria, who make up roughly 10% of the population and belong to one of the
oldest Christian communities in the world, have been cautious about taking
sides during the war, although many have a preference for the Assad regime
which they see as guaranteeing their survival in the face of the Islamist
threat.